Planning Service
Designing Houses for the Outer Hebrides
“the scale, sensitive siting and design of single houses in the countryside can help support
and revitalise rural communities without undermining the area’s distinctive qualities.”
Source: Designing Places (2001) Scottish Government
Design is an integral part of the process of building a house, and the Comhairle have developed an Outer Hebrides Design Guide to take you through the process of planning and designing your house (or houses).
Designing houses for the Outer Hebrides can be a challenge, with the climate and variable site conditions, and the Design Guide aims to set out key considerations to look at when planning and designing your house.
Latest News
The Outer Hebrides Design Awards attracted a high number of entrants and left the judging panel with a difficult job to whittle down the number of developments to be commended within each section, and an even harder job to select the overall section winners.
The Awards were held on 25 April and we welcomed the developers and architects of the many commended and award winning projects. The Awards celebrated the high levels of achievement in quality design in the Outer Hebrides, and hope to encourage improved design in the built environment across the Outer Hebrides over the longer term. The Comhairle recognise the benefit of good design in creating places which enhance and inspire a sense of pride in our communities.
Awards were presented in the categories of Housing, Business/Non-domestic, Sustainability and Conservation.
Housing – Self DesignWinner
- Taigh Eilidh, 13A Port of Ness, Isle of Lewis
- An Taigh Clach, 5 Upper Carloway, Isle of Lewis
- 4 Callanish, Isle of Lewis
Winner
- Fir Chlis, 12 Seilibost, Isle of Harris
- 15 Trealigarry, Berneray, Isle of North Uist
- Ardmhor Lodge, Keose, Isle of Lewis
- Beach Bay Cottage, 5A Carnish, Uig, Isle of Lewis
- Rockside, Locheport, Isle of North Uist
- 34A Eoligarry, Isle of Barra
Winner
- Borve Lodge Self-Catering, Borve Estate, Isle of Harris
- Stornoway Police Station, 18 Church Street, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis
- Western Isles Dental Centre, Macaulay Road, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis
- Creative Industries and Media Centre, 56 Seaforth Road, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis
- Driftwater Weaves, 21 Tobson, Bernera, Isle of Lewis
Winner
- Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn, Tom na Ba, Galson, Isle of Lewis
- Uiseag, 22 Portvoller, Point, Isle of Lewis
- Moorpark Cottages, 7 Park Barvas, Isle of Lewis
- 15 Trealigarry, Berneray, Isle of North Uist
Winner
- 4 & 4A Gearrannan Blackhouse Village, Isle of Lewis
- 4 Callanish, Isle of Lewis
Check back soon for a comprehensive view of each of the developments.
Inverness Architectural Association (IAA) Awards
The IAA biennial awards will take place in 2012, with entries opening in February 2012 and closing at the end of April 2012. Local exhibitions will be held throughout the Highlands and Islands from May to October with the finals being held and awards presented in Inverness in November 2012. For more information visit the Inverness Architectural Association website which will have information on the upcoming Awards when they launch.
Rural Design : Future landscapes
The Scottish Government has launched a document which outlines the importance of design and place-making in rural areas of Scotland. It brings together a range of rural design initiatives which have been carried out by the Scottish Government in conjunction with Orkney Islands Council and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. Together, these projects provide new approaches to the rural design agenda by demonstrating how sensitive design should be incorporated into successful place-making for rural Scotland.
Rural Design: Future Landscapes (PDF)
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’s ‘Kit House Redesign’ project
There will be more information on these projects in the coming months.
Outer Hebrides Design Guide
The Outer Hebrides Design Guide (PDF, 1M) sits alongside Scottish Government Planning Advice
Note 72 Housing in the Countryside. It also relates to the Development Plan for the Outer Hebrides. The policies and design advice contained in these documents can be a ‘material consideration’ to help us determine planning applications.
The planning service of the Comhairle should be your first port of call.
A planning officer can speak with you about your ideas, called a pre-application discussion, and this advice service is provided free of charge. We encourage you to engage with planners as early as possible as it will help you to gauge how well your ideas fit with policy. This will allow you to incorporate the outcomes of your pre-application discussion in your final proposals.
To help a planning officer to consider your proposals during pre-application discussions, it would be helpful if you could provide:
- a map of the site and any alternative sites/plots - showing the surrounding area and neighbouring buildings.
- photographs of the site including some close to the site and some from public roads.
- sketches or photographs of existing houses similar to the one that you have in mind.
If you are unable to visit Comhairle offices, please email design@cne-siar.gov.uk and send in your ideas, plans or pictures for some advice.
